Welcome Home

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

Berry
College undergraduates have kicked off another academic year with the arrival
of more than 600 new students.

Nearly 580 freshmen
began their academic year Monday. The members of the class of 2018 moved into
their rooms, with help from their parents and the Berry Bellhops. While the day
was exciting, some parents had to prepare for the fact that their children are
leaving home.

Hannah
Gernowitz is an only child, so her mother, Cindy Gernowitz has struggled a bit
watching her leave home.

“We
really tried to instill a strong foundation in her as she prepares to leave
home. It definitely has been an emotional roller coaster, but we want her to be
well prepared and well set because we know that God has great things for her,”
Cindy Gernowitz said.

The
students themselves seem to be eager to start their new adventure. Many, when
asked what they were most looking forward to during this school year, said
meeting new people was at the top of their list. Courtney Schaffer and Kayla
Atchley had known each other for less than a week, but they acted like old
friends. Atchley said when she first visited Berry, one of the things that drew
her in was the friendliness of everyone she met.

“I
like the size of the school and the classes. You get to know your professors
and the kids in your class. I thought that was really cool,” Schaffer said.

The
Welcome Ceremony for incoming freshman, along with 36 transfer students,
included, a flash mob dance performed by the resident assistants, Krannert
Center Activities Board staff, Student Government, and SOAR (Student
Orientation, Advising and Registration) leaders. Students were also
welcomed with words of encouragement from President Steve Briggs, Dean of
Students Debbie Heida, Provost Kathy Richardson and head SOAR leader and
student Leah Bolden.

In
the following days students experienced some of what daily life looks like here
at Berry. The students participated in Playfair, a series of extravagant ice
breakers, to allow them to get to know their fellow classmates. They also had
the opportunity to work at team building skills through the Berry Outdoor
Leadership Development (BOLD) program’s ropes course.

To
wrap up Viking Venture, everyone headed up to Mountain Campus for a giant
slip-n’-slide and cookout. Throughout the weekend students learned what it
means to be a Viking, and how they can make the most out of this new chapter of
their lives.

Berry
desires to bring the best out in all of their students.

In her speech Dean Heida expressed her hope for
the class for 2018; “you have had inspiring histories to date—we look for more
to come.”

Story by student public relations assistants
Koren Shetter and Elizabeth Bradford. Photos by student photographers Lauren
Neumann and Blake Childers.